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New research reveals that wine may protect against bowel cancer
- the second most common form of cancer, claiming 18,000 British
victim a year alone. Compared with teetotallers those who drank
at least a glass of red or white a week were much less likely
to suffer bowel cancer.
The researchers , led by Dr. C. Messina from the State University
of New York analysed examinations on 1,500 people. They were looking
for polyps, or adenomas which grow on the wall of the bowel and
trigger bowel cancer. It was found that only 1% of wine drinkers
had significant polyps, compared with 18% of grain-based spirit
drinkers and 12% of those who abstained, the findings being statistically
significant. Patients who had a history of bowel cancer, inflammatory
disease or polyps were excluded to avoid skewing the results.
Dr Messina's study was the first to examine the varying effects
of different types of alcohol, the researchers defining alcohol
use as a glass of wine, can of beer, or one measure of spirit
at least once a week. |
